Background. CT angiogram is frequently obtained after diagnosis of ischemic colitis (IC). Aims. To investigate the vascular findings of CT angiogram as compared to contrast-enhanced CT scan and whether this modality changes the management or prognosis of IC. Methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with IC from 2007 to 2013. Results. CT angiogram was performed in 34 patients (28.81%), whereas contrast-enhanced CT scan was performed in 54 patients (45.76%). In CT angiogram group, 8 patients (23.5%) had atherosclerotic changes. Stenosis was found in 12 patients (35.3%) (9: celiac trunk, 3: SMA). Among this group, one patient underwent colectomy and another underwent angioplasty of the celiac trunk who died within 30 days. Among contrast-enhanced CT scan group, 5 patients (9.3%) had atherosclerotic changes. Stenosis was found in 5 patients (9.3%) (3: celiac trunk, 1: SMA, and 1: IMA). Among this group, 3 patients had colectomy and one died within 30 days. There was no statistical difference between both groups in all vascular findings except the stenosis which was higher in CT angiogram group ( ). Neither the need for surgery nor all-cause mortality was different between both groups. Conclusion. CT angiogram did not provide any useful findings that altered the management or the prognosis of IC. 1. Introduction Blood circulation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract consists of three major splanchnic arteries which supply the stomach to the rectum: celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). The colon is protected against ischemia by a rich collateral blood circulation; however, these collateral networks are considered relatively limited as compared to those in the stomach and the small bowel. The two main arteries supplying the colon are the SMA and the IMA. The vascular anatomy of colonic vessels is highly variable between individuals, exposing the colon to ischemia especially in the watershed areas and the right colon [1]. Splenic flexure (Griffiths’ point) and rectosigmoid junction (Sudeck’s point) are known as watershed areas because of the critical points of blood flow between two different vascular supplies: the SMA and the IMA and the IMA and the internal iliac artery, respectively [1–5]. The marginal vessel is poorly developed in the right colon in up to 50% of people, making the right colon susceptible to ischemic colitis [1]. Mesenteric (bowel) ischemia is classified into three entities which vary in their etiologies, presentation, management, and prognosis: ischemic colitis, acute
References
[1]
J. Baixauli, R. P. Kiran, and C. P. Delaney, “Investigation and management of ischemic colitis,” Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, vol. 70, no. 11, pp. 920–921, 925-926, 928–30, 2003.
[2]
L. J. Brandt, P. Feuerstadt, and M. C. Blaszka, “Anatomic patterns, patient characteristics, and clinical outcomes in ischemic colitis: a study of 313 cases supported by histology,” American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 105, no. 10, pp. 2245–2252, 2010.
[3]
M. Sherid and E. D. Ehrenpreis, “Types of colitis based on histology,” Disease-a-Month, vol. 57, no. 9, pp. 457–489, 2011.
[4]
M. Sherid, H. Sifuentes, S. Samo, P. Deepak, and S. Sridhar, “Lubiprostone induced ischemic colitis,” World Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 299–303, 2013.
[5]
M. Sherid, S. Samo, S. Sulaiman, and J. H. Gaziano, “Ischemic colitis induced by the newly reformulated multicomponent weight-loss supplement Hydroxycut,” World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 180–185, 2013.
[6]
A. Ofer, S. Abadi, S. Nitecki et al., “Multidetector CT angiography in the evaluation of acute mesenteric ischemia,” European Radiology, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 24–30, 2009.
[7]
K. M. Horton and E. K. Fishman, “Computed tomography evaluation of intestinal ischemia,” Seminars in Roentgenology, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 118–125, 2001.
[8]
P. B. F. Mensink, L. M. G. Moons, and E. J. Kuipers, “Chronic gastrointestinal ischaemia: shifting paradigms,” Gut, vol. 60, no. 5, pp. 722–737, 2011.
[9]
S. Korotinski, A. Katz, and S. D. H. Malnick, “Chronic ischaemic bowel diseases in the aged: go with the flow,” Age and Ageing, vol. 34, no. 1, pp. 10–16, 2005.
[10]
P. D. R. Higgins, K. J. Davis, and L. Laine, “Systematic review: the epidemiology of ischaemic colitis,” Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, vol. 19, no. 7, pp. 729–738, 2004.
[11]
J. P. Hreinsson, S. Gumundsson, E. Kalaitzakis, and E. S. Bj?rnsson, “Lower gastrointestinal bleeding: incidence, etiology, and outcomes in a population-based setting,” European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 37–43, 2013.
[12]
D. Chavalitdhamrong, D. M. Jensen, T. O. G. Kovacs et al., “Ischemic colitis as a cause of severe hematochezia: risk factors and outcomes compared with other colon diagnoses,” Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 852–857, 2011.
[13]
B. Arroja, I. Cremers, R. Ramos et al., “Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding management in Portugal: a multicentric prospective 1-year survey,” European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 317–322, 2011.
[14]
F. Paterno, E. A. McGillicuddy, K. M. Schuster, and W. E. Longo, “Ischemic colitis: risk factors for eventual surgery,” American Journal of Surgery, vol. 200, no. 5, pp. 646–650, 2010.
[15]
T. Kimura, A. Shinji, A. Horiuchi et al., “Clinical characteristics of young-onset ischemic colitis,” Digestive Diseases and Sciences, vol. 57, no. 6, pp. 1652–1659, 2012.
[16]
M. Tada, F. Misaki, and K. Kawai, “Analysis of the clinical features of ischemic colitis,” Gastroenterologia Japonica, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 204–209, 1983.
[17]
Y. Habu, Y. Tahashi, K. Kiyota et al., “Reevaluation of clinical features of ischemic colitis—analysis of 68 consecutive cases diagnosed by early colonoscopy,” Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 31, no. 9, pp. 881–886, 1996.
[18]
T. Lee, H. Wang, H. Chiu et al., “Male gender and renal dysfunction are predictors of adverse outcome in nonpostoperative ischemic colitis patients,” Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, vol. 44, no. 5, pp. e96–e100, 2010.
[19]
M. A. Montoro, L. J. Brandt, S. Santolaria et al., “Clinical patterns and outcomes of ischaemic colitis: results of the Working Group for the Study of Ischaemic Colitis in Spain (CIE study),” Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 46, no. 2, pp. 236–246, 2011.
[20]
C. Medina, J. Vilaseca, S. Videla, R. Fabra, J. R. Armengol-Miro, and J.-R. Malagelada, “Outcome of patients with ischemic colitis: review of fifty-three cases,” Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 180–184, 2004.
[21]
J. Cubiella Fernández, L. Nú?ez Calvo, E. González Vázquez et al., “Risk factors associated with the development of ischemic colitis,” World Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 16, no. 36, pp. 4564–4569, 2010.
[22]
E. J. Balthazar, B. C. Yen, and R. B. Gordon, “Ischemic colitis: CT evaluation of 54 cases,” Radiology, vol. 211, no. 2, pp. 381–388, 1999.
[23]
J. R. Scharff, W. E. Longo, S. M. Vartanian et al., “Ischemic colitis: spectrum of disease and outcome,” Surgery, vol. 134, no. 4, pp. 624–630, 2003.
[24]
S. O'Neill, K. Elder, S. J. Harrison, and S. Yalamarthi, “Predictors of severity in ischaemic colitis,” International Journal of Colorectal Disease, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 187–191, 2012.
[25]
G. Sergi, M. Mosele, F. Cardin et al., “Ischemic colitis in the elderly: predictors of the disease and prognostic factors to negative outcome,” Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 428–433, 2010.
[26]
R. A?ón, M. M. Boscá, V. Sanchiz et al., “Factors predicting poor prognosis in ischemic colitis,” World Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 12, no. 30, pp. 4875–4878, 2006.
[27]
M. Huguier, A. Barrier, P. Y. Boelle, S. Houry, and F. Lacaine, “Ischemic colitis,” American Journal of Surgery, vol. 192, no. 5, pp. 679–684, 2006.
[28]
S. Romano, L. Romano, and R. Grassi, “Multidetector row computed tomography findings from ischemia to infarction of the large bowel,” European Journal of Radiology, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 433–441, 2007.
[29]
M. Elramah, M. Einstein, N. Mori, and N. Vakil, “High mortality of cocaine-related ischemic colitis: a hybrid cohort/case-control study,” Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, vol. 75, no. 6, pp. 1226–1232, 2012.
[30]
L. E. Philpotts, J. P. Heiken, M. A. Westcott, and R. M. Gore, “Colitis: use of CT findings in differential diagnosis,” Radiology, vol. 190, no. 2, pp. 445–449, 1994.
[31]
J. H. Wolff, A. Rubin, J. D. Potter et al., “Clinical significance of colonoscopic findings associated with colonic thickening on computed tomography: is colonoscopy warranted when thickening is detected?” Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 472–475, 2008.
[32]
K. M. Horton and E. K. Fishman, “Multi-detector row CT of mesenteric ischemia: can it be done?” Radiographics, vol. 21, no. 6, pp. 1463–1473, 2001.
[33]
I. D. C. Kirkpatrick, M. A. Kroeker, and H. M. Greenberg, “Biphasic CT with mesenteric CT angiography in the evaluation of acute mesenteric ischemia: initial experience,” Radiology, vol. 229, no. 1, pp. 91–98, 2003.
[34]
C. Flobert, C. Cellier, A. Berger et al., “Right colonic involvement is associated with severe forms of ischemic colitis and occurs frequently in patients with chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis,” American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 95, no. 1, pp. 195–198, 2000.
[35]
F. Cardin, S. Fratta, E. Perissinotto et al., “Clinical correlation of mesenteric vascular disease in older patients,” Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, vol. 24, no. 3, supplement, pp. 43–46, 2012.
[36]
C. Reissfelder, H. Sweiti, D. Antolovic et al., “Ischemic colitis: who will survive?” Surgery, vol. 149, no. 4, pp. 585–592, 2011.
[37]
J. Sotiriadis, L. J. Brandt, D. S. Behin, and W. N. Southern, “Ischemic colitis has a worse prognosis when isolated to the right side of the colon,” American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 102, no. 10, pp. 2247–2252, 2007.